Jury chosen in teen texting-while-driving case

A parade of about 60 jurors filed into a Burlington courtroom for an unknown trial. But when the defendant, Emma Vieira, 19, arrived a few minutes later, many knew what case they were there for.

"This case has gotten some publicity in the media," warned Judge William Kupersmith. "If you know anything about this case, as I told you a few minutes ago, please do not say anything about it in any way, shape, matter or form to any of your fellow jurors."

In August 2011, Vieira was driving in Colchester when she struck a woman walking her dog. The dog was killed, and Debbie Drewniak, 52, was seriously injured.

Prosecutors said Vieira was texting while driving at the time of the accident.

"Ms. Vieira is charged with the offense that we call grossly negligent operation of a motor vehicle with seriously bodily injury resulting," Kupersmith told the group of potential jurors.

About half of them acknowledged they were familiar with at least some of Vieira's case.

"I read all accounts in the Burlington Free Press," said one woman.

A few jurors were dismissed right off the bat, like the man who said, "From what I've read and what the media's reported, at this point, an opinion is formed."

The challenge for both the prosecution and defense: Finding jurors who could put what they've heard behind them.

"Has anything you've read caused you to form an opinion about what happened?" defense attorney Sarah Reed asked a juror.

"Would you be willing to set aside anything you may have heard and make your decisions as a juror on the evidence that you would hear here in court?" prosecutor Paul Finnerty asked another.

Vieira watched the selection process, not knowing who among the group could be deciding her fate.

Twelve jurors and three alternates were ultimately chosen at about 4:30 Monday afternoon. Opening statements in the trial start Tuesday morning. Kupersmith anticipates it will be a four-day trial and hopes the jury comes to a decision Friday afternoon.

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